Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code
To find out more about the Complaint Handling Code , please click here.
Housing Ombudsman Scheme
To find out more information about the scheme, please visit Housing Ombudsman website here.
Self-assement
We have to submit a self-assessment of our complaints process to the Housing Ombudsman. Self-assessments run from 1 January until 31 December. This means that in our Annual Reports the assessments are used for our financial year rather than than the full calendar year so some of the reporting may not match our self-assessment.
You can read our self-assessments here:
Our Self asessment for 2021
Our self assessment for 2022
More about the Housing Ombudsman and complaint handling:
In July 2020, the Housing Ombudsman published a new Complaint Handling Codesetting out good practice that will allow landlords to respond to complaints effectively and fairly.
Key areas in the Code
- Universal definition of a complaint
- Providing easy access to the complaints procedure and ensuring residents are aware of it, including their right to access the Housing Ombudsman Service
- The structure of the complaints procedure - only two stages necessary and clear timeframes set out for responses
- Ensuring fairness in complaint handling with a resident-focused process
- Taking action to put things right and appropriate remedies
- Creating a positive complaint handling culture through continuous learning and improvement
- Demonstrating learning in Annual Reports.
The Code is part of the Ombudsman’s new powers in the revised Housing Ombudsman Scheme.
Self-assessment
Landlords will be asked to self-assess against the Code by 31 December 2020 and publish the results, but please note that these do not need to be submitted to the Ombudsman. Non-compliance could result in the Ombudsman issuing complaint handling failure orders. Guidance on these new orders has also been published and these will be implemented from 1 January 2021.
Operational staff - the Code supports excellent complaint handling and engagement with the Ombudsman. If the requirements of the Code cannot be delivered this should prompt discussion about what needs to change.
Chief executives and senior managers – the Code supports learning from complaints and promotes the open and transparent use of information to assess performance and risks.
Boards or equivalent governance - the Code supports culture setting and intelligence for assurance exercises, using complaint data alongside other management information on stock, services and customer feedback to provide insight into their organisation. It is important for governance to understand the complaints their organisations are receiving and the impact of their complaint handling on residents.
Residents - the Code will act as a guide for residents setting out what they can and should expect from their landlord when they complain. The requirements in the Code also provide residents with information about how to make a complaint and how to progress it through the landlord’s internal complaints procedure.
Read more from the Housing Ombudsman.
If you have any questions please email
enquiries@originhousing.org.uk